The Galvin Green Amos is a top-of-the-range waterproof golf jacket – one that’s been designed to keep every drop of rain out so that you can stay focused on performing to your best.
It’s not easy to keep innovating in this category, but the Swedish brand has managed to create another high-tech piece with a difference – a lightweight rain jacket with a hood. It can’t be detached, so not everyone will like what is more of an anorak style, but hoods have their uses on the golf course, we we found out to our delight during testing!
Let’s start with the technology. As we’ve come to expect from Galvin Green, makers of some of the best golf waterproofs, every garment and item of outerwear is packed with technology and has a premium look and feel. The Amos is no different: it’s wonderfully light and stretchy and that attention to detail Galvin Green is renowned for is obvious.
The key piece of technology at play in the Amos is the brand’s Gore-Tex Paclite fabric with stretch technology, which ensures optimal freedom of movement. It’s also very light and easy to pack away in your golf bag, which makes it convenient to take out on a showery day.
I put the Amos through its paces over two rounds, where the rain was biblical. I found that the water didn’t bead off as quickly as it did compared to the Galvin Green Armstrong jacket, but that’s not to say it’s not waterproof – it is. Compared to the Armstrong jacket, however, the fabric has a softer feel, which I prefer and it means it isn't as loud when you swing.
The biggest plus, for me, was the hood. I’m not sure that you can call a hood groundbreaking, but I’m a big fan – the reason being that it proved very useful when chipping and putting during a deluge. When you’re playing shots that don’t require as much movement of the body, the hood is really effective in keeping out beads of rain that can so often distract you when you feel a drop going down the back of your neck or forehead. It can feel a little restrictive when making full swings in the rain, especially when the drawstring is tightened, but it's not impossible to make good contact.
The hood also has a bit of a peak – a firmer structure not too dissimilar to a cap, which just means the fabric doesn't flap loosely around your head. Combined with a drawstring, you should find it really comfortable to wear in rainy weather, even when you have to tighten it more. This is a game-changing feature that makes it stand out amongst the best golf rain jackets for sure.
In terms of the overall fit, the Amos came up a touch larger than I was expecting it to - I'm typically a size medium in Galvin Green but this was on the baggy side. That said, the fit was pretty good and you can customise it via the drawstring at the hem and the adjustable Velcro cuffs. The pockets (chest and front) have quality zips for convenient and secure storage while the shaped sleeves ensure that the jacket moves with your swing.
Price-wise, we’re talking top-of-the-range, and that comes with a price – just north of $450 (£369.00). If you’re a Galvin Green fan looking for a new waterproof jacket, that’s not going to deter you as you know what you’re getting. Whether you choose to purchase this particular garment will probably come down to whether or not you like the idea of wearing a hood when it rains, as opposed to a waterproof hat or cap – simple as that. But I've really enjoyed wearing this jacket, even when it's not raining and away from the course too - such is the versatile, stylish design the Amos boasts.
